Monday, August 22, 2016

Atletic Bilbao All-Time Team

This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.Known as Los Leones(the Lions), Athletic Bilbao is known for its proud history. They have a policy of fielding players from the Greater Basque region only. Despite of their restriction, Atletico Bilbao was one the earliest power house in Spain. They were the best Spanish side until the 1950's. Today, they won the 4th most La Liga titles and the second most Copa del Rey titles.Please see my All-time Basque 23-member team hereGK: José Ángel Iribar (Spain)Iribor spent his entire career with Athletic Bilbao. He played over 600 games in a 18 year career. He was Spain's starting keeper at the European Championship as Spain won their first ever major trophy.

Jose Angel Iribar

GK: Carmelo Cedrun (Spain)Cedrum played for Athletic Bilbao from 1950 to 1964. He went to Espanyol in 1964. He was capped 13 times. His son also played as keeper for Atletico Bilbao.GK: Andoni Zubizarreta (Spain)Represented La Roja in 4 World Cup Finals. He was at one point Spain's cap record holder. He won Barcelona's first ever Champions' League in 1992. He also played for Athletic Bilboa and Valencia.RB: José Orue (Spain)He was a long-time footballer for Athletic Bilboa during the 1950's. At the time of writing, he is their fourth most appearance record for the club. He earned 3 caps for Spain.RB: Andoni Iraola (Spain)Iraola graduated from Athletic Bilbao's academy. He played for the senior squad from 2003 to 2015. He is now with NY City FC. he was capped 8 times.CB: Andoni GoikoetxeaNicknamed "The Butcher" for his style of play, Goikoetxea. He played mainly for Athletic Bilboa, but also with Atletico Madrid. He was a part of Javier Clemente's Bilboa team that won back-to-back league title from 1982 to 1984. However, he was best remembered for almost ending Diego Maradona's career with a tackle in 1983. A year later, he became the focal point of the infamous brawl between Barcelona and Athletic Bilboa at the Final of Copa del Rey.

Gioko was known for his battle vs Maradona

CB: Jesús Garay (Spain)Rated among the best ever centre-back to be capped for Spain, Garay went to the WC Finals in 1962. He spent 10 seasons with Athletic Bilboa and then, Barcelona.CB: Aitor Karanka (Spain)Karanka played for Athletic Bilboa from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, he made a dream move to Real Madrid, where the club won three Champions' League in 5 years. He was mainly a backup. he returned to Athletic Bilboa in 2002 and went to Colorado Rapids in 2006.CB: Rafael Alkorta (Spain)Alkorta played for Athletic Bilboa and Real Madrid. At Real Madrid, he won two La Liga titles. He went to the WC Finals in 1990, 1994 and 1998.

Rafael Alkorta

LB: Bixente Lizarazu (France)Bixente Lizarazu was the leftback for the all-conquering French team of 1998 and 2000. He was also a star at Bayern Munich for 9 seasons. He won the Champions' League in 2001. He is a Basque and played for Athletic Bilbao.

Bixente Lizarazu

LB: Aitor Larrazábal (Spain)From 1990 to 2004, he was the undisputed starter for Athletic Bilbao. He led the club to a runner-up position in 1997-1998.DM: Belauste (Spain)Knwon for his physical size, he was an early star of Athletic Bilbao and Spain. He captained Spain to win a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics, but he almost did not pick nup his medal because he was a Basque nationalist.CB/DM: Javi Martinez (Spain)Athletic Bilbao signed him from Osasuna before he made his senior debut. He played 5 seasons with them. In 2012, Bayern Munich broke the Bundesliga transfer record to bring him to Munich. At the time of writing, he received 18 caps. He was used mainly as a backup at the WC Finals in 2010 and Euro 2012.

Javi Martinez

CM: José Luis Panizo (Spain)During 16 professional seasons he would play in 325 La Liga matches, scoring 136 goals (seven years in double digits). In the 1942–43 campaign, as Athletic Bilbao won the double, he netted 12 in 24 games.RB/RM/FW: Ion Andoni Goikoetxea (Spain)A member of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team(Barcelona). He could play in various position. In 1994, he joined Athletic Bilbao. He was capped 36 times between 1990 and 1996.

LW: Francisco Yeste (Spain)A product of Athletic Bilbao's academy. From 1999 to 2010, he played 11 seasons with the first team. He was considered an icon with the club. In 2010, he went to play in the Middle East and Olympiakos in Greece.

Francisco Yeste

LW: Agustin Gainza (Spain)He spent his entire career with Athletic Bilbao, winning 10 major titles. He won 33 caps and was the captain of Spain in the WC 1950, where they finished 4th.AM: Julen Guerrero

FW/RW: Joseba Etxeberria (Spain)Etxeberria started his career with Real Sociedad, but moved to Athletic Bilbao in 1995, breaking the transfer record for an under 18 player in Spain. He was capped 53 times.FW: Txetxu Rojo (Spain)Txetxu Rojo was an icon of Athletic Bilbao. He is the second-most appearances in the Basque side's history, only behind José Ángel Iribar. He won two Copa del Rey in 1969 and 1973. He was capped 18 times, but never played in a Finals.ST: Fernando Llorente (Spain)Nicknamed "El Rey León", he was a product of Athletic Bilbao's academy. He spent 8 seasons with the senior side. The club reached the Final of UEFA Club in 2012. In 2013, he moved to Juventus. He would win three straight Serie A title and reached the Champions' League Final in 2015. For Spain, he won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012. He was mainly used as a backup.

Fernando Llorente

ST Dani (Spain)From 1972 to 1986, Dani scored 199 goals for Athletic Bilbao. The team won back-to-back team title for the seasons of 1982-1983 and 1983-1984. They also won the Copa Del Rey in 1983-1984. He was capped 25 times and participated at Argentina 1978 and Euro 1980.

ST: Ismael Urzaiz (Spain)A graduate of Real madrid's academy. He played for a number of clubs before settling down with Athletic Bilbao. He scored 115 goals for him between 1996 and 2007.ST: Rafael Moreno Aranzadi "Pichichi" (Spain)The award for la Liga top-scorer is named after him. He scored 240 goals in 170 matches for Athletic Bilbao. ST: Telmo Zarra (Spain)Athletic Bilbao's greatest player. He won the Pichichi award 6 times. He owned many scoring records in Spain. He was capped 20 times and scored 20 goals for Spain.